Automatic door opening or closing device.



AUTOMATIC DOOR OPENING 0R CLOSING DEVICE. APPLICATION FILED MAY 2a. 1903. RENEWED mm: 22, 1905.

PATENTED JULY 18, 1905. L. IVES.

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Fiji]- WITNESSES cl OZ l/V VENTOR A TTORNEY PATENTED JULY 18, 1905.

L. IVES. AUTOMATIC DOOR OPENING 0R CLOSING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 23, 1903. RENEWED JUNE 22, 1905.

2 SHEETSSHEBT 2 g x v M/VE/VTOH W/ TNE SSE S A TTOR/VE) Patented July 18, 1905.

PATENT OFFICE.

LOUIS IVES, OF DEARBORN, MICHIGAN.

AUTOMATIC DOOR OPENING OR CLOSING DEVICE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 795,225, dated July 18, 1905.

Application filed May 23,1903. Renewed June 22, 1905. Serial No. 266,506.

To all whom it vnay concern:

Be it known that I, LoUIs IvEs, a citizen of the United States, residing at Dearborn, county of IVayne, State of Michigan, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Automatic Door Opening or Closing Devices, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification.

My invention has for its object certain new and useful improvements in an automatic door opening and closing device, whereby a person by stepping upon a yielding platform will cause the door to be automatically opened, the door automatically closing when the pressure upon the platform is relieved therefrom. Obviously such a device will be particularly important and valuable for a great variety of usesas, for example, in stores, houses, barns, and as applied also to gates; but I would have it understood that I contemplate its application to any use to which it may be applied.

To these ends my present invention consists of the construction, combination, and arrangement of appliances hereinafter described and claimed, and illustrated in the ac companying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a view in perspective, showing features of my invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section through the yielding platform, the platform being in its normally elevated position. Fig. 3 is a view in vertical cross-section on the line 3 3, Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a plan view of the mechanism for supporting the platform, showing parts in horizontal section, the platform being removed. Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 2, but showing the doors in open position and the platform in its depressed position. Fig. 6 is a detail view showing a flexible connection of the operating-lever with the door.

I carry out my invention as follows: In the drawings, a represents a floor, I) b folding doors arranged to swing vertically upon their hinges, and 0 represents a yielding platform located in an opening or well in the floor and normally projecting slightly above the floor, the floor being cut away a little longer than the platform to permit a desired degree of endwise movement of-the platform. Underneath the platform is a framework casing or other suitable support, (indicated at (1,) secured in placein any suitable manner. Upon said support or framework are located a series of bearings e, in which bearings are journaled, respectively, rock-shaftsf f, preferably three in number, although I do not limit myself to any precise number thereof, three being preferably used to evenly support the platform toward its extremities and intermediate thereof. The rock-shafts are provided with arms g. The rock-shafts and arms constitute together rocking arms, the arms g having a jointed connection, as shown, with corresponding brackets h, secured to the plat form. The arms 9 are preferably so arranged as to swing either way from the longitudinal center of the rock-shaftsf to carry the platform into depressed and elevated position, so that the platform will have substantially the same movement either way from the horizontal center of said shafts. Such a construction will limit the movement of the platform to its lowest degree. It will be evident that when a person steps upon a platform the rocking arms or shafts will be depressed with the platform, the arms 9 swinging in the are of a circle, and consequently the platform having an endwise movement upon the arc of a circle correspondingly, to permit which the well or orifice in the floor is made a little longer than the platform. The extremities of the platform are preferably beveled or rounded to prevent the operator from stubbing thereagainst and by having the platform in depressed position descend substantially to the same level as the floor there will be no liability of stubbing against the floor when leaving the platform.

The rock-shafts are preferably formed intermediate their ends with rigid upwardlyprojecting arms "5, with which are engaged one or more links or bars 3'.

I prefer to employ two bars connecting the individual rock-shafts, so that they will op-. erate simultaneously. With the said bars are engaged retracting-springs lclc, which may be secured at their opposite ends in any suitable manner to the supporting structures, the springs preferably extending in a horizontal plane with the bars j, as thereby the well in which the operating mechanism is located may be made of the least possible depth.

With one of the rock-shafts fpreferably with the middle rock-shaft is engaged an upwardly-projecting operating-lever Z for each of the doors, the levers Z being connected with the door by any suitable mechanism to actuate the dooras, for example, a connecting-rod m, ointedly connected with the respective door and with the adjacent lever. I have shown in the drawings two doors 6 b and two operating-levers Z Z, suitably connected therewith; but I would have it understood that I do not limit myself to plural doors and plural levers Z, as the mechanism. would obviously actuate a single door or may be made to actuate plural doors, as may be required.

In Fig. 6 I have shown a flexible connection a, suitably connected at its extremities with the door and with the corresponding operating-lever Z.

The operation of. the device is obvious. When a party steps upon the platform, the platform is depressed, the rocking arms being rocked into downward position, operating the levers Z and opening the corresponding doors. When a person steps off from the platform, the pressure being relieved therefrom, the retracting-springs k restore the rocking arms to normal position, and the door is consequently closed, the platform rising into its normal position. The platform being supported as above described is equally depressed at all points by weight of the person thereupon. The platform is constructed with elongated orifices, (indicated at p 1),) through which the corresponding levers Z project to engage and operate the door.

Where a connecting-rod m is employed to connect the door with the lever I, said rod will have a jointed engagement with the door and with the lever; but where a flexible connection is employed it need not have a jointed engagement at its extremities at adjacent parts, inasmuch as the flexibility thereof will serve the same purpose as a jointed connection. The lever Z may be made in two parts having an adjustable engagement the one with the other, if preferred, as by means of bolts 1, extending through an elongated slot in one portion of the said lever.

The position assumed by the mechanism connecting the platform with the door is such as to normally hold the door in closed position until the platform is depressed, the springs 7c aiding in holding the door in closed position while the platform is in normal position. It will be seen that the devices con I would have it understood that I do not limit myself solely to the particular lever mechansm shown to connect the rocking arms with the door, as my invention contemplates the employment of any suitable mechanism for this purpose, whereby the desired movements can be secured. The holding of the door in closed position, as above stated, to prevent the accidental opening of the door is a matter of importance. Extending the rockin arms or shafts transversely underneath t e platform and 0011- necting the same at opposite ends with the platform affords firmness to the construction.

What I claim as my invention is 1. A door-operating device comprising an inclosing support or casing fixed to the floor beneath an opening therein and having bearings, rock-shafts ournaled in the bearings and having crank-arms rigid. thereon, a yielding platform pivoted to the crank-arms, additional arms fixed on said shafts, a link connecting said additional arms, means connected to said rock-shafts to hold the platform elevated, and jointed mechanism con necting one of the rock-shafts with the door to open the latter when the platform is depressed.

2. In a door-operating device, the combination of a stationary support or casing mounted beneath an opening in the floor, transversely-extending rock-shafts mounted upon said support, a yielding platform nor mally extending above the floor having direct pivotal connection with and supported by said rock-shafts, means connecting the rock-shafts, means to hold the platform in normally elevated position, and jointed mech anism connecting the rocl shafts and the door to open the door by the depression of the platform, the platform when in depressed position descending to substantially the level of the floor.

3. In a door-operating device, the combination of a support or casing located beneath an openin in the floor, transverselyextending rock-s iafts mounted upon said support, a yielding platform normally extending above the floor and having direct pivotal connection with and supported by said rockshafts above the opening in the floor, means connecting the rock-shafts, a spring to hold the platform in normally elevated position, and mechanism connecting the rock-shafts and the door to open. the latter by the depression of the platform, the platform when in depressed position descending to substan tially the level of the floor.

4. A door-operating device comprising a support or casing located beneath an opening in the floor, bearings carried by said support, transversely-extending rock-shafts journaled in the bearings provided with crankarms rigid thereupon, a yielding platform pivotally connected to the crank-arms and normally extending above the floor, means to hold the platform in normally elevated position, and mechanism connecting one of the rock-shafts with the door to open the latter when the platform is depressed, the platform when in depressed position descending to substantially the level of the door, said door when in depressed position descending to substantially the level of the floor.

6. A door-operating device comprising a support located in an opening in the floor, rock-shafts mounted thereupon, a platform having a jointed connection with the rock shafts, means connecting the rock-shafts with the door to open the door when the platform is depressed, a link connecting the rockshafts and located thereabove, and a spring connected with one of the rock-shafts thereabove to restore the platform to normal position.

7. A door-opening device comprising a support located in an opening in the floor, transversely-extending rock-shafts mounted thereupon, a yielding platform having a jointed connection with the rock-shafts, means connecting one of the rock-shafts with the door to open the door when the.

platform is depressed, said rock-shafts provided with upwardly-extending arms, links connecting said arms, a spring secured at one end thereof to said links and at the opposite end of said support in a plane above the rock-shafts.

8. In a door-operating device, the combination of a support or casing fixed to the floor beneath an opening therein transvers ely-eXtending ro ck-shafts mounted thereupon, a yielding platform pivotally connected to and supported by said rock-shafts above the opening in the floor, a link above the rock-shafts connecting the rock-shafts, a spring above the rock-shafts to hold the platform in normally elevated position, and mechanism connecting the rock-shafts and the door to open the door by the depression of the platform, said rock-shafts provided with crank-arms to support the platform and with additional upwardly-projecting arms with which said link is connected.

9. In a door-operating device, the combination with a door, of rock-shafts having rigid crank-arms, a yielding platform pivoted directly to the crank-arms, a link above the rock-shafts connecting the rock-shafts, an arm on one of said shafts, an oscillatory lever, a rod connecting the door and the lever, and a retracting-spring to automatically close the door.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

LOUIS IVES.

Witnesses:

N. S. WRIGHT, M. M. SIRUBLE. 

